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KHMER KROM NEWS

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Deputy assistant to U.S. secretary of state to visit Cambodia next week

English.news.cn 2013-10-30 16:55:37

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Scot Marciel, principal deputy assistant to the United States secretary of state, will start a two-day official visit to Cambodia on Monday next week in order to boost bilateral ties, a Cambodian spokesman said Wednesday.

During his stay, Marciel will hold a talk with Ouch Borith, secretary of state at the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in order to strengthen and expand bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries, Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters.

"The visit clearly shows the continuation of close relations and cooperation between the Cambodian government and the U.S. government," he said.

A press release from the U.S. Embassy to Cambodia said during the visit, Marciel will meet with government and opposition officials, civil society, and business representatives to discuss the political situation in Cambodia.

Scot Marciel will be the first senior U.S. official to visit Cambodia after the controversial July election which Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party won. Longtime opposition leader Sam Rainsy's party refused to accept the results.

On Sept. 24, the Cambodian parliament, formed by the ruling party's 68 lawmakers-elect, voted for the formation of a new government under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen even though the opposition's 55 lawmakers-elect boycotted the session.

The opposition is still boycotting parliament. Sam Rainsy said his party did not recognize the Prime Minister Hun Sen-led government, claiming it was a violation of the constitution.

However, Hun Sen defended that his government was legitimate since the nation's King Norodom Sihamoni had already given his endorsement.